This month’s Campaign for Purpose recipient is the talented Akua Auset (formerly Nick Roques), the "fairy-god-sister to the stars." Akua touted as "LA's Best Kept Secret" specializes in "airy, flawless enchanting beauty" and is the originator of the The Brow Sculpt™. She has worked on hundreds of music videos and TV spots, with ten plus years in the entertainment and advertising industry. A young single mother at the age of twenty-one, Akua went from hungry artist on welfare to being hand-picked to work with Michael Jordan, the world’s most legendary athlete, award-winning recording artist R. Kelly and has worked on projects all over the country with Snoop Dogg, Bishop Don Juan, Nick Cannon, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Fat Joe, 50 Cent, Queen Latifah, Vanessa Williams, Laurence Fishburne, Jill Scott, india.arie, MOS DEF, Lenny Kravitz, Patti LaBelle, Blair Underwood, Natalie Cole, Nia Long, Vivica A. Fox amongst many others. We talked with Akua to learn more about her inspiration and challenges faced on the road to pursuing her purpose passionately.
Prior occupation: As an occupation, I’ve done many…the last thing. Hmmm? I believe it was a short stint as a matchmaker for a dating agency in LA.
What motivated you to start? I got into makeup as a way to be able to paint and still make money as an artist. You know the myth of the starving artist? I didn’t want to be one. I had a little girl to take care of.
How did you get started? About 11 years ago friend of mine was managing a photography studio in Chicago and she was sharing with me about how much the makeup artists they hired were making ($300, $500 a day) and at the time I was thinking I was doing pretty good at $15/hr freelancing at department stores. She gave me the names of a couple of makeup artists and I called them and asked them what I needed to do to get started. They told me. I did it those things and went to an agency. They liked my work but told me to come back in six months with more photos in my portfolio. I returned and they took me on as a client. I began to work pretty regularly and gig from gig, client from client my business and career grew.
What is your overall motivation/inspiration? The motivation and the inspiration is two-fold. Yes, I do makeup, but I am a holistic WELLness researcher and incorporate healing practices with the makeup experience. Once my client gets out of the chair there is a visible “resurrection” that has taken place. And then…I am handed cash.
What more can you ask for? …to make a difference in someone’s life and be compensated for it.
What Word Defines you the most and why? The word Why. Because it keeps me curious, interested and with honor in life. To maintain a curiosity about life keeps me childlike. And whatever you’re interested in you usually do well at. And asking why also has a commitment to truth. Why can also be a burden when you can’t turn it off and just have fun sometimes.
What have been your biggest challenges? Maintaining a mindset of peace, love and abundance in ALL aspects of my life.
Do you have any advice to others looking to pursue their passion?
First: Create a vision and intention for your life.
Second: Create a plan including a community of advisors(even better if they do what you would like to do) that can offer real guidance & support.
Third: Have integrity and accountability for your vision, intention and plan.
Fourth: Give your gift to as many people as possible for the sheer purpose of sharing your unique expression. Do be compensated but DO NOT let this be the purpose of sharing…because then it is not sharing. It’s something else in which a pimp is involvedJ.
What is your favorite P3 tee? Love Life!
Akua is the creator of The Butterfly Project and the author of SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES: Working your Power and Magic Book One. Her National Book Tour will begin this Spring 2007. For more information on upcoming events and speaking engagements visit akua-auset.com.
